The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-30

lifting her hand dramatically, "sure
enough when they got home, the gal had
done twitchin'p'
"But she doesn't witch all the time,
anyway, / thought?" said /.
"Lor, no." replied Mrs. Holland, still
dramatic and as logical as usual, "but
you see how quick that treatment done
If. told UNI that after that wos con-
verted, n 1 wos willin' to own it,"
The next morning as it was beginning
TO grow red in the east, there was an ex-
cited fumbl1ng and knocking at our door;
there were even stones thrown against
the chamber window, and confused call
ings which ming led with our dreams. Ii
was impressed at last on our reused
senses that it was Nancy telling US to
"git up quick'n harness n go for the
mind-cure woman, for Robert was sick. -
Mrs. Holland has yet to give COM
mand that we refuse to obey. We rose
and staggered to the barn, our early cali
er following that she might ride back
with US.
at is the mince pie" said L GROSSLY,
''and we are only able TO go for the heal
er because we did not partake."
SIT amt the pie" said Nancy, and then
added with waggings of her palsied head,
sits the progress of the disease"
We could not guess where she had
learned such phrase as that. We strug.
| gled into the democrat and went bouuc-
ing along over the ruts to the next town.
The early morning was lovely and the
birds seemed far gayer than we felt. 1t
was consolation for us to know that the
healer would not ENJOY being routed out
at this hour. 1t was three miles before
we came to the house where Mrs. Maybe
temporarily sojourned. She was tall
stately woman, with manner go i'm
pressive as to be almost unctuous, taken
in connection with her avoirdupois. Ii
she we're annoyed at this early call she
concealed that annoyance perfectly. She
pressed our hands III her warm, fat palm
and said that it gave her great pleasure
to meet us. The drive to Rensome she
added, would be delightful before the
day had become profaned by man. In
the early hours there was more heaven
ly calm. If we would permit it, she
would sit alone on the back seat and hold
few thoughts over the patient as we went
60 ho
tory to more etfectual treatment when
she reached his bedside.
We protested that we could offer no
hindrance to the holding up of thoughts
and consequently our drive was very
silent. My sister afterward asserted that
Mrs. Maybe slept nearly all the way. But
this is irrelevant.
We found Robert bolstered into a sit
ting position in bed aud whimpering and
whining that Nancy "had reused him
afore sun-up and would hev it that he
was horrid sick. But he warn't; he Jest
wanted to be let lone n hev his sleep
out"
His wife told him to shet up: that she
guessed she knew what she was about.
Nevertheless, it seemed to me that there
was very unusual look OF shamefaced-
ness about her.
We were desired to wait outside that
the treatment might not be disturbed.
and we meekly obeyed as Is our habit,
We could see through the window, how
ever, the picture Of the patient staring
with the utmost Darkness from stupid
half-seeing eyes, at the woman who sat
by him; and darting across our vision
was Nancy making quick, aimless passes
at nothing all about the room.
The treatment was remarkably short
it would be unworthy to think that the
brevity might have been because the
surroundings led to doubt of the ability
of anybody to produce the fee. But
Marcy quivering with exultation, brought
out her two dollars and declared that
Robert was already better.
"Mrs. Maybe as she took the money,
said impressively:
"Keep your husbands mind fixed to a
high ideal of health, my dear friend. See
to it that he continually thinks that the
only source of life is from God, and that
ray of light can no more be severed than
you can separate a sunbeam from the
sun. Let truth continually shine through
him. Dothis and all will be well.
1t was pitiable to see Nancy blink at
the speaker and gasp as she tried to take
in her words.
I do not know whether Mrs. Maybe
continued to hold thoughts over her
new patient on her return drive, but do
know that she seemed somnolent.
When we came back We called to in
quire concerning Robert We found him
rather brighter than was generally the
case and this brightness seemed to be in
duced by indignation that he should have
been so strangely reused up by Nancy,
and that she should have so insisted on
his illness.
We thought this was a whim of his until
We had had short interview with Nancy
when we again suggested mince pie.
81 tell you 'tain't,' she said almost vio-
lently. "Leastways faint no pie that's
hurt Robert"
SHOW do you know?"
"Cause / eat it all myself" she cried
I'LL